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Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Poll: New Yorkers Support Occupy Wall Street

By a 67 – 23 percent margin, New York City voters agree with the views
of the Wall Street protesters and say 87 – 10 percent that it is “okay that
they are protesting,” according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

New York City voters say 72 – 24 percent, including 52
– 41 percent among Republicans, that if the protesters obey the law, they can
stay as long as they wish.

A total of 72 percent of voters say they understand
the protesters’ views “very well” or “fairly well,” with 17 percent who say
“not too well” and 10 percent who say “not well at all.”

Voters split 46 – 45 percent in their approval of the
way police are handling the Wall Street protest, but approve 61 – 33 percent of
how the police are doing their job overall.

“It’s a
free country. Let them keep on
protesting as long as they obey the law, New Yorkers say overwhelmingly,” said
Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “Critics complain that no one can figure out
what the protesters are protesting. But
seven out of 10 New Yorkers say they understand and most agree with the anti-Wall
Street views of the protesters.

“For a while,
the critics focused on the cops’ use of pepper spray at the protests. Voters are divided on how police are handling
the protesters, but they say almost 2-to-1 that police are doing a good job
overall.”

Asked
who is to blame for the current state of the nation’s economy;

·37 percent of New York
City voters blame the administration of former President George W. Bush;

·21 percent blame Wall
Street and financial institutions;

·18 percent blame
Congress;

·11 percent blame President Barack Obama.

New
York City voters support 61 – 28 percent an extension of the state’s so-called
‘Millionaire’s Tax.’ Even Republicans
support the extension 55 – 38 percent.

Voters
also support 73 – 19 percent, including 48 – 40 percent among Republicans,
tougher government regulation of banks and Wall Street firms.

“New
Yorkers, even Republicans, back the Wall Street protesters on at least two
things they’re talking about, a get-tough attitude toward banks and Wall Street
and continuation of the state’s ‘Millionaire’s Tax,’” Carroll said.

From October 12 – 16, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,068
registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points. Live
interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The
Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts
public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut,
Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for
research.

By the way, don't forget to vote in our own local poll about this:

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/5582719/"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;What do you think of the Occupy Wall Street Movement? (choose all that apply)&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;